Machine for use in sorting veneer.



0. C. FENLASON. MACHINE FOR USE IN SORTING VENEER. APPLICATION I ILEDFEB. 21, 1908.

' 6 8HEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, DC.

Patented Jan;1 6,1 912.

0. G. FENLASON.

MACHINE FOR USE IN SORTING VENEER.

Patnted Jan. 16, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2 APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, 1908..

E g Q Orin Cfinzaaom 5444mm, wi/wmw u'mmulun ILANUHHAI'II cu.,WASHINGTON L). cv

0. C. FENLASON.

MACHINE FOR USE IN SORTING VENEER. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, 1908.

1 0 14,8 1 9. Patented Jan. 16, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

lm themes CQLUMBIA PLANuGRAPl-Hco WASHINGTON, D. C

0. G. FENLASON.

MACHINE FOR USE IN SORTING VENEER.

APPLICATION FILED Exam, 1908. 1

Patented Jan. 16, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

arm at COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON. D. c.

0. C. PENLASON. MACHINE FOR USE IN SORTING VENEER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, 1908.

' Patented Jan. 16, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEBT 5.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII II II lllull llllllllllllllllln 0. G. PENLASON.

MACHINE FOR USE IN SORTING VENEER,

9' APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, 1908. Patented. Jan 16,

6 SHEETSSHEET G,

Q kw. RR

IIIIIKLII I 5 Ia sOLUMIIIA PLANULHZAPH cu.. WASHINGTON. nv c.

ORIN C. FENLASON, OF I-IOQUIAM, WASHINGTON.

MACHINE FOR USE IN SORTING VENEER.

Application filed February 21,1908.

sheets one at a time in order to see the defects and cull out the badsheets. This process has proven very expensive especially in sortinglong thin material, which must be turned end for end in order to examineit thoroughly. I

The object of the present invention is to lessen the expense ofmanufacturing veneer packages by reducing the cost of sorting theveneer, and to provide a simple and cornparatively inexpensive machine,adapted to enable veneer to be rapidly sorted without handling the sameto ascertain the defects thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of thischaracter, adapted to carry the sheets of veneer in spaced relation pasta plurality ofoperators, within easy reach of the same, so that thedefective sheets may be easily seen and readily removed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine adapted toreceive the veneer in a stack or pile, and capable of stacking theperfect sheets evenly and uniformly at the discharge end of theconveyer.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claimshereto appended; it beingunderstood that various changes in the form,proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope ofthe claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.-

. In the drawings z-Figurel is a plan view of a veneer sorting machine,constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a frontelevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation. Fig. 4 is a centralvertical Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 16, 1912 Serial No. 417,169.

longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view ofthe upper portion of the machine, taken substantially on the line ww ofFig. 4:. Fig. 6 is a detail view partly in section,-illustrating theconstruction of the chain tightener. Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectionalview, taken transversely of the machine and illustrating theconstruction of the front rotary suction devices. Fig. 8 is an enlargeddetail sectional view, taken longitudinally of the machine through oneof the front rotary suction devices and illustrating the arrangement ofthe veneer and the resilient closure. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detailsectional view of the rear rotary suction device, illustrating theconstruction for stacking the veneer. Fig. 10 is a detail view of aportion of the frame of the machine.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

The frame of the machine comprises front and rear legs or standards 1and 2, upper and lower front and rear transverse connecting bars ormembers 3 and 4, and upper and lower longitudinal bars or members 5 and6.

The front legs or standards, which preferably consist of castings, areprovided at their inner faces with upper and lower horizontal brackets 7and 8, in which are boltedor otherwise secured attaching flanges 9 and10 of the front upper and lower transverse bars or members. The frontupper and lower transverse bars or members are preferably in the form ofchannel castings, and the attaching flanges 9 and 10 project from theends of the transverse bars or members and are arranged at right anglesto the same. The rear legs or standards are provided with correspondingupper and lower brackets 11 and 12, and the upper and lower reartransverse bars or members are constructed similar to the fronttransverse bars or members, and are provided with terminal attachingflanges 13 and 14, which are bolted, or otherwise secured in therecesses of the rear legs or standards.

In order to enablefthe persons employed for sorting the veneer to standclose to the endless carrier or conveyer, hereinafter described, thelongitudinal bars or members, which are preferably in the form ofI-beams, are secured to the transverse bars or members at points betweenthe ends thereof, thereby leaving an open space at each side versebraces.

of the machine, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Thetransverse bars or members are provided with horizontal supporting arms15 and 16, having grooves or channels to receive the ends of thelongitudinal bars or members .5 and 6.

The grooves or channels of the arms 15 and 16 are formed by upper andlower spaced flanges, and the arms, which are cast integral with thetransverse bars, are reinforced by upper and lowerbosses 17 andhorizontal webs 18. The sides of the frame are also connected bytransverse braces, consisting of rods 18 and tubular bars 18 intel-posedbetween the sides of the frame. The rods 18 which extend through thetubes 18*, pierce the sides of the frame and are provided at their endswith nuts for engaging the same. The upper andlower longitudinal I-beamsare connected by braces 18, constructed similar to the said trans- Bythis construction a frame of great strength and durability is provided.The frame, however, may be constructed in any other preferred manner, aswill be readily understood. The front legs or standards are provided attheir upper ends with suitable bearings 19 for the reception of a fronttransversely disposed tubular vacuum shaft 20, which is connected at itsends to front suction or vacuum tubes 21. The hollow shaft 20 is heldagainst longitudinal movement by adjustable collars 22, secured to theshaft by set screws, or other suitable fastening devices and arranged atthe inner ends of the bearings 19, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 7 ofthe drawings. The ends of the hollow shaft project beyond the bearings,and the projecting terminal portions 23 fit within caps 24, which aresecured to the upper ends of the front legs or standards at, the outerfaces thereof by screws 25, or other suitable fastening devices,packings 26 of rubber, or other suitable material being interposedbetween the caps and the legs to provide air tight connections. Thefront suction or vacuum tubes 21 are preferably vertical, as shown, andare provided at their lower ends with elbows 27, having terminal flanges28,which aresecured by screws 29, or other suitable fastening devices tothe outer faces of the caps 24, packings 30 of rubber, or other suitablematerial being interposed between the flanges 28 of the vacuum tubes andthe caps. The caps are provided with central openings, which communicatewith the vacuum tubes. This construction provides an air tightconnection between the stationary suction or vacuum tubes and the frontrotary hollow shaft 20;

The hollow rotary shaft 20 is provided at intervals with a series ofapertures 31, each The aperthe air trunk 8 inches.

'36. The front sprocket wheels, which are mounted on the shaft 20, areof a less diameter than that of the hollow drums, and the peripheries ofthe hollow drums intersect the plane of the carrying flights or portionsof the sprocket chains, whereby the sheets of veneer are delivered tothe carrier or conveyer and are stripped from the rotary feeding orsuction devices, as hereinafter more fully explained. The rotary suctiondevices project outwardly'beyond the working plane of the conveyer andoff-set the latter from the stack of sheets of veneer hereinafterdescribed.

The rear sprocket wheels 36 are mounted on a rear transversely disposedtubular shaft 37, journaled in suitable bearings 38 of'the rear legs orstandards and connected at its ends with rear vacuum or suction devices39, having elbows 40' at their lower ends. The rear transverse tubularshaft is provided at its ends with joints similar to those heretoforedescribed, the terminals of the shaft 37 being arranged in caps 41 andpackings 42 of rubber, or other suitable material being interposedbetween the caps 41 and the rear legs or standards. The rear suction orvacuum tubes are provided at their lower ends with annular flanges 43,which are secured to the caps 41, rubber packings 44 being interposedbetween the flanges [43 and thecap 41. The rear shaft 37 is provided atintervals with a series of apertures 45, which communicate with hollowdrums 46, provided at diametrically opposite points with" sets or seriesof perforations 47 and forming rotary suction devices for taking thesheets of veneer from the carrier or conveyer and stacking the sheets,as hereinafter more fully explained. The drums and. the sprocket wheelsof both the front and rear shafts are secured to the same by means ofkeys 48, and are held against movement longitudinally of the shafts byadjustable collars 49, located at the sides of the drums.

The front and rear suction or vacuum tubes are connected by diagonallyarranged branches 50 and 51 with a central vertical air trunk 52, whichis connected with a suitable suction or exhaust fan (not shown). Thearea of the air trunk should equal or exceed the combined areas of thefront and rear vacuum or suction tubes, and inpractice the front andrear vacuum tubes will preferably be four inches in diameter andHowever, the relative diameters of the air trunk and the vacuum tubesmay be varied, as will be readily understood. WVhen the air within theair trunk is exhausted, vacuums or partial vacuums are created in thehollow air drums, and the latter form rotary suction devices and areadapted to grasp and positively carry the sheets of veneer, ashereinafter more fully explained.

The sheets 53 of veneer are placed upon a front table in a slightlyinclined position, the sheets resting upon their lower edges and beingadapted to present their rear faces to the rotary suction devices, asclearly illustrated in Figs. f and 8 of the drawings. The rotary suctiondevices form a stop for the stack of sheets of veneer and engage thestack throughout their entire rotary movement. The upper edge or portionof the end sheet, contiguous to the rotary suction devices, is free andwhen, through the rotation of the hollow shaft 20, the perforations 83are carried to the upper portion of the end sheet, the latter will befirmly grasped by the hollow drums and will belifted from the stack andconveyed to the endless chains, which will strip the sheets of veneerfrom the drums 32 and carry the same along the machine to thedischarging rear end thereof. The sheets of veneer may, as illustratedin the accompanying drawings, extend entirely across the table, or aplurality of stacks of shorter sheets may be placed on the table, aswill be readily understood. When the sheets extend entirely across themachine, the persons sorting the sheet-s will watch their respectiveends and remove the defective sheets.

The table, which is arranged at an inclination, consists of a transverseportion or head 54 and intermediate and side bars or members 55 and 56,adjustably secured at their front ends to the transverse portion or head54 by means of screws 57, which extend through slots 58 of thetransverse portion of the table. The transverse portion of the table issubstantially V-shaped' in cross section being composed of two wings orflanges, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and one of itswings or flanges is arranged to support the bars or members 55 and 56.The screws 57 engage threaded perforations of the bars or members 55 and56, which are adapted to be moved transversely of the machine. The otherwing or flange of the transverse portion or head is provided withextended terminals 59, slidably arranged in inclined guides 60. Theinclined guides 60 consist of grooves, formed in the inner faces ofenlargements or extensions 61 of the front legs or standards of theframe, and the said grooves extend upwardly and inwardly toward thefront rotary suction devicesto enable the table to be raised and loweredand adjusted toward and from the said suction devices to position theveneer properly with relation to the same. The table is raised andlowered by means of a pair of inclined adjusting screws 62, equipped attheir lower ends with hand wheels 63, or other suitable operating meansand journaled in lugs 64, preferably formed integral with the extensions61 of the front legs or standards and located at the lower ends of theinclined groove 60. The screws are supported in the bearings of the lugs6 L by means of collars 64*, secured to the adjusting screws by means ofset screws, or other suitable fastening means, the lug 64 being arrangedbetween the hand wheel 63 and the collar 64 The upper portion of theadjusting screws engage threaded apertures of the lugs or ears 65,extending outwardly from the flange.

or wing of the transverse portion or head, which slides in the grooves.The lugs 65 are arranged at right angles to the grooves,

and the adjusting screws are adapted to be rotated to raise and lowerthe table. The upper supporting flange or wing of the transverse portionor head of the table is provided at its ends with openings 66, arrangedin alinement' with the adjusting screws and adapted to permit the upperends thereof to extend through them, whereby the table may be raised orlowered to the full capacity of the adjusting screws.

The veneer is maintained in contact with the front rotary suctiondevices, and is held in proper position by means of a transverselydisposed follower 67, arranged on the adjustable bars 55 and 56 of thetable and slidable between the upwardly extending flanges or wings ofthe angle bars 56. The follower consists of a. transverse bar or bodyportion and an upstanding flange 'arranged at the engaging edge of thebody portion and adapted to fit against the outer mostsheet of veneer,as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The upstanding flangeor portion is reinforced by webs 6S, and the transverse bar-or bodyportion is provided at the center with a handle or grip 69 to enable thefollower to be readily grasped and drawn outwardly to permit the veneerto be readily placed upon the table between the follower and the frontsuction devices. The follower is automatically advanced by weight-s 70as the veneer is carried from the table by the rotary suction devices.The weights 70, which are located at opposite sides of the front of themachine, are secured to the lower ends of flexible connections 71,consisting of ropes, cables. or the like and depending from guidepulleys 72, and extending outwardly therefrom to the follower, which isprovided with lugs 73 for the attachment of the upper or outer ends ofthe flexible connections. The guide pulleys 72 are mounted on andarranged at the lower face of the supporting flange or wing of thetransverse portion or -head of the table.

The sheets of veneer from the table are carried upwardly by the frontrotary suction devices, the free upper edge being drawn against therotary suction devices, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings, and in order to enable the full force of the suction to be appliedto the veneer for I taking the same from the table, the machine isequipped with a plurality of resilient or yieldable closures forcovering one set of the perforations 83, while the other set is carryingthe veneer from the table. The curved closures are in the form of shoesand consist of springs 74, secured at their inner ends 75 to the top ofthe spaced front channel bar or beam 3 and extending outwardlv anddownwardly therefrom to the outer portions of the rotary drums. Thesprings 7 are curved to conform to the configuration of the drums, andthey are provided at their upper faces with lining strips 76 of leather,rubber, or other suitable material to enable the springs to form airtight closures for the lower set of perforations 33, while the upper setof perforations is traveling from the veneer to the endless chains. Thiscauses the veneer to be held to the drums by the full strength of thesuction created by the exhaust fan.

The upper carrying stretches or flights of the endless sprocket chains,extending be tween the front and rear suction devices. travel inhorizontal guides 77, consisting of channel bars mounted upon woodenbars 78, which are supported by transverse bars 79. The transverse bars79, which are arranged at intervals, are suitably secured at their endsto the upper longitudinalside bars. These longitudinal guides preventthe sprocket chains from sagging, and the sprocket chains, which projectslightly above the side flanges of the channel bars 78, support theveneer clear of the guides.

The veneer is spaced apart at regular intervals, and the defectivesheets may be easily and conveniently removed. The perfect sheets, asthey arrive at the discharging end of the conveyer, are grasped by therear rotary suction drums or devices 46 and are carried downwardlyaround the outer side thereof and are delivered to a rear table 80,extending across the machine and provided at its inner transverse edgewith upwardly extending arms or bars 81. The table, which is mountedupon a horizontal platform 82, is also provided with outwardly orrearwardly extending interme diate and side arms or portions 83,adjustably secured to the platform by means of bolts 84, piercing theplatform 82 and extending through slots 85 of the arms or portions 83.The table is adapted to be moved inwardly and outwardly in a directionlongitudinally of the machine to arrange the upwardly extending arms ormembers in arms or members 86 to suit the width of the sheets of veneer.The upwardly extending arms or bars 81 form a transverseinner wallagainst which the sheets of veneer are stacked. The said arms or bars 81extend upwardly to a point above the plane of the bottom of the rearrotary suction devices, so as to extend into thepath of the sheet ofveneer carried by the said suction devices. The endless chains arearranged in the Spaces between the arms or bars 81, which prevent thesheets of veneer from being carried farther by the rear suction devices.

The sheets of veneer are clamped between the arms or bars 81 of thetable and the resilient arms or members 86, which are provided withcurved upper guiding portions 87, arranged substantially concentricwith. the hollow shaft and secured to a rear transversely disposedsupporting bar 88. The curved portions of the resilient arms or barsform guides for the veneer, as the sheets are carried around thedischarging end of the conveyer, and are delivered to the stack or pile.The bar 88, which is constructed of angle iron, or other suitable metal,is composed of a rearwardly extending horizontal flange and an upwardlyextending vertical flange, the upper ends of the curved portions of theresilient arms being secured to the upper face of the horizontal flangeof the bar 88. The resilient arms or members 86 extend downwardly andterminate at a point about midway between the rear rotary suctiondevices and the horizontal portion of the table. This leaves the lowerportion of the rear end of the machine open for the removal of the stackof veneer, and in practice, the sheets of veneer will be evenly stackedin the space between the resilient arms or members 86 and the rear armsor bars 81, the resilient arms or members having sufficient strength tosupport the veneer held by them.

The rear rotary suction devices are equipped with peripherally arrangedcams 89, located at one side of each of the hollow drums and extendingfrom one set of perforations to the other. The two sets of perforations47 of the rear drums are arranged diametrically opposite each other, andthe peripherally arranged cams are curved longitudinally and taper fromtheir centers to their ends, and they present curved faces to the veneerand are adapted to press downwardly the veneer supported by theresilient arms or members. The cams operate to smooth the veneer, andthey enable the sheets to be evenly and uniformly piled. The cams alsoserve to press the stackdown and thereby space the same from the suctionde- .proper position with relation to resilient vices to provide a spacefor the next succeeding sheet.

The rear transverse supporting bar is also equipped with a transverseseries of fingers 90, depending from the supporting bar and arranged inthe path of and forming stops for checking the veneer to hold the sameuntil it is properly grasped at its rear edge by the rotary suctiondevices. The upper portions of the fingers are secured to the verticalflange of the bar 88 by means of screws 91, which pass through slots 92of the fingers, and the latter are adapted to be adjusted vertically. Inpractice the fingers, which are located above the chains, will eX- tenddownwardly to within about an eighth of an inchto the plane of theperiphery of the drums and one quarter of an inch below the highestportion of the cam, when the latter is at the top of the drums. Should asheet of veneer, stopped by the fingers, be raised by the cams, it willbe drawn downward by the rotary suction devices, and will be carriedrearwardly and downwardly by the same and delivered upon the sta k orpile. The sheets of veneer are disposed transversely with relation tothe endless conveyer, and there is suflicient space be tween the fingersand the terminal portions of the cams for the veneer to pass whenproperly engaged by the rotary suction devices.

, The lower flights or stretches of the sprocket chains extend forwardlyfrom the rear sprocket wheels to lower front driving sprocket wheels 98,mounted on a counter shaft 94 equipped at one end with a pulley 95,which receives a driving belt 96, extending downwardly through the floorto a suitable driving pulley (not shown). In practice, the sortingmachine will be arranged on one of the upper floors of a factory, but,of course, it may be operated at any other desired point, and anypreferred arrange ment of belting or gearing .may be employed. The lowersprocket wheels 93 constitute a bottom drive and maintain the lowerflights or stretches of the sprocket chains taut, and prevent anysagging of'the sprocket chains. This assures a .uniform discharge and aneven stacking of the per fect sheets of veneer upon therear table.

The transverse shaft 94 is journaled in suitable bearings of the frontlegs'or standards' of the frame, and the sprocket chains are provided atthe front of the machine with depending loops 97, which are engaged by aseries of chain tighteners 98, mounted on a transverse rod or shaft 99and maintained in spaced relation by sleeves or (:01- lars 100,interposed between the tension devices. The end tension devices are alsoarranged between sleeves or collars 101, provided with set screws, orother suitable means fo gag g the transverse rod orshaft 99. Eachtension device consists of a wheel, mounted between a pair of pivotedarms 102 and provided with a peripheral groove, formed by spaced flanges103 and receiving the depending loop 97. The pivoted arms 102 areconnected at their outer ends by means of a shaft or axle 10 1, uponwhich the loop-engaging wheel is-mounted, and the inner ends of the armsare connected by a transverse pin 105. The pivoted tension devices areadapted to take up the slack and maintain the chains at the desiredtension.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A machine of the class described comprising means for holding a stackof sheets of material in fixed relation, a conveyer, a rotary device forfeeding the sheets of material onto the conveyer, said rotary deviceengaging the stack at its periphery throughout its entire rotarymovement and project ing outwardly beyond the working plane 'of theconveyer to ofi set the latter from the stack.

2. A machine of the class described comprising means for holding a stackof sheets of material, a conveyer including a plurality of sprocketchains, and ashaft carrying sprocket wheels for the chains, and aplurality of rotary annular suction devices also mounted on the shaftfor feeding the material onto the conveyer and forming a stop for thestack, the latter being supported in. fixed relation with the suctiondevices, said suction devices being of greater diameter than thesprocket wheels so as to space the conveyer from the stack and engagingthe latter throughout their entire rotary movement.

3. A machine'of the class described comprising a conveyer including aplurality of endless chains, shafts, and sprocket wheels mounted on theshafts, and front and rear rotary devices also mounted on the shafts forfeeding the veneer onto the conveyer and for removing it therefrom.

4:. A'machine of the class described comprising a conveyer including aplurality of endless chains, hollow front and rear vacuum shafts, andsprocket wheels mounted on the shafts, and front and rear rotary suctiondevices mounted on and communieating with the shafts for feeding thesheets onto the conveyer and for removing them therefrom. V

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of front andrear shafts, spaced endless carriers connecting the same, front and rearrotary suction devices mounted on the shafts and having their peripheralsurfaces projecting outwardly beyond the working plane of the carrier,the front suction device being arranged'to feed sheets of material ontothe carriers and the rear suction device being adapted to remove thesheets from the carriers.

6. Ina machine of the class described, the combination of front and rearshafts, spaced endless carriers connecting the shafts, and front andrear rotary suction devices carried by the shafts for feeding the sheetsonto the conveyer and for removing them therefrom.

7. A machine of the class described comprising a conveyer including aplurality of endless chains, hollow vacuum shafts, and sprocket wheelsmounted on the shafts, and a plurality of hollow drums communicatingwith the-shafts and provided'with suction apertures, said drumsalternating with the sprocket wheels. 7

8. A machine of the class described comprising a conveyer including aplurality of endless chains, hollow vacuum shafts, and sprocket wheelsmounted on the shafts, and a plurality of hollow drums mounted on theshafts and provided with suction apertures,

said drums being of greater diameter than the sprocket wheels to spacethe sheets from the same.

9. A machine of the class described comprising an endless conveyerhaving spaced hollow shafts, rotary suction devices mounted on theshafts for feeding the veneer onto 7 the conveyer andfor removing ittherefrom,

and an exhaust or vacuum pipe having branch tubes connected with the.hollow shafts.

10. A machine of the class described'comprising an endless conveyerhaving spaced hollow shafts, rotary suction devices mounted on the shaftfor feeding the veneer onto the conveyer and for removing it therefrom,and an exhaust or vacuum pipe having branch tubes extending to andconnected with both ends of each shaft.

11. A machine of the class described comprising an endless conveyerincluding a h0llow suction or vacuum shaft, a rotary suction deviceconsisting of a hollow drum mounted on and communicating with the shaftand provided with a plurality of sets of apertures, and a closure forcovering the remaining apertures when one set is operating on theveneer, said closure consisting of a curved shoe, and means for holdingthe same yieldably in engagement w1th the periphery of the drum.

12. A machine of the class described comprising an endless conveyerincluding hollow suction or vacuum shaft, a rotary suction deviceconsisting of a hollow drum mounted on and communicating with the shaftand provided with a plurality of sets of apertures, and a closure forcovering-the remaining apertures when one set isoperating on the veneer,said closure consisting of a curved spring arranged concentric withtheperiphery ofthehollow drum and provided with a lining of flexiblematerial to prising a frame provided at opposite sides 7 with inclinedways, an endless conveyer having a hollow suction shaft journaled in theframe, a rotary suction device mounted on the shaft, a table slidable inthe said ways and arranged to hold the veneer contiguous to the suctiondevice, a follower mounted on the table, and weights connected with thefollower for actuating the same to feed the veneer to the suctiondevice. 7

14. A machine of the class described comprising an endless conveyer, arear rotary suction device for removing the veneer from the conveyer,and a table arranged to receive the veneer.

15. A machine of the class described comprising an endless conveyer, arear rotary suction device for removing the veneer from the conveyer,and spaced members arranged to receive the veneer to form a stack orpile.

16. A machine of the class described comprising a conveyer, a rotarydevice for removing the veneer from the conveyer, and spaced membersarranged to stack the veneer and adapted to support the same.

17 A machine of the class described comprising a conveyer, a rotarydevice for re-- moving the veneer from the conveyer, and spaced membersarranged to stack the veneer, one of the members being located in. thepath of the veneer and forming a stop.

18. A machine of the class described com prising a conveyer, a rotarydevice for removlng the veneer from the conveyer, and spaced membersarranged to stack the veneer, one of the members being located in,

moving the veneer from the conveyer, means for stacking the veneerlncludmg a table having means extending into the path of the veneer toform a stop for the same, and a resllient arm or member cooperatlng w1ththe stop and arranged in spacedrelation with the same, said arm ormember being provided with a curved portion arranged concentrlc with thesald rotary device and forming a guide for the-veneer.

21. A machine of the class described com- A prising a conveyer, a rotarydevice for taking the veneer from the conveyer, means for stacking theveneer, and means operated by the conveyer for smoothing the stackedveneer.

22. A machine of the class described com prising a conveyer, a rotarydevice for taking the veneer from the conveyer, means for stacking theveneer, and a rotary smoothing device for smoothing the stacked veneer.

23. A machine of the class described comprising a conveyer, a rotarydevice for taking the veneer from the conveyer, means for stacking theveneer, and a rotary cam arranged to smooth the stacked veneer andadapted also to press the same downward.

24. A machine of the class described including a shaft, spaced drumsmounted on the shaft and havinga plurality of openings, and camsextending around the drums between the openings.

' 25. A machine of the class described comprising an endless conveyer, arotary device for removing the veneer from the conveyer, means forstacking the veneer including curved members arranged concentric withthe said rotary device, and a stop arranged in the path of the veneerfor holding the same until engaged by the said rotary device.

26. A machine of the class described comprising an endless conveyer, arotary suction device for removing the veneer from the conveyer, a tableprovided with arms or bars extending into the path of the veneer, spacedmembers cooperating with the arms or bars for stacking the veneer andhaving curved guiding portions spaced from the suction device, and astop also arranged in the path of the veneer for holding the same untilengaged by the suction device.

27. A machine of the class described comprising an endless conveyerincluding .a series of spaced sprocket chains, rotary devices operatingin the spaces between the chains for removing the veneer from theconveyer, and a series of stops arranged in the spaces between therotary devices for checking the veneer until properly engaged by thesaid devices.

28. A machine of the class describe'd comprising an endless conveyer, arotary suction device for removing the sheets from the conveyer, and astop extending into the path of the sheets for checking the same untilproperly engaged by the said suction device.

29. A machine of the class described comprising a conveyor including aplurality of spaced endless chains, means for stacking the veneerincluding rotary devices for taking the veneer from the conveyer, and aplurality of fingers arranged in the path of the veneer and adjustabletoward and from the conveyer, said fingers being adapted to hold theveneer until properly engaged by the rotary devices.

tary devices, and a series of fingers adjust ably secured to anddepending from the supporting bar and arranged between the said rotarydevices.

81. A machine of the class described comprising an endless conveyer, arotary suction device for removing the veneer from the conveyer, a tableprovided with arms or bars extending into the path of the veneer, spacedmembers cooperating with the arms or bars for stacking the veneer andhaving curved guiding portions spaced from the suction devices, a stopalso arranged in the path of the veneer for holding the same untilengaged by the suction devices, and a cam carried by the suction devicesand arranged to smooth the stacked veneer.

32. A machine of the class described comprising an endless conveyerincluding a 1101- low shaft, a rotary suction device mounted on theshaft and communicating with the interior thereof and provided withopposite suction openings, and. a curved cam located at one side of thesuction device between the said openings.

A machine of the class described comprising an endless conveyerincluding a hollow shaft, a rotary suction device consisting of a hollowdrum mounted on the said shaft and communicating with the interiorthereof and provided with opposite sets of suction openings, and acurved cam carried by.

the drum at one side thereof and extending from one set of apertures tothe other, and means for stacking the veneer, said cam operating tosmooth the stacked veneer and also to press the same downward to providea space for the next succeeding sheet.

34. A machine of the class described comprising an endless conveyerhaving a hollow shaft, suction devices mounted on the hollow shaft forremoving the veneer from the conveyer, an adjustable table provided withupwardly extending arms or bars for stacking the veneer, and resilientmembers composed of curved upper guiding portions spaced from theconveyer, and lower veneerengaging portions spaced from the said arms orbars and terminating short of the table to leave an open space for theremoval of the veneer at the bottom of the stack, said resilient membersbeing adapted to support the upper portion of the stack.

35. A machine of the class described comprising a frame, a conveyerincluding a plurality of endless sprocket chains having horizontal upperstretches, shafts journaled in the frame, and sprocket wheels mounted onthe shafts, guides supporting the upper stretchesof the sprocket chains,means located at the front of the machine for feeding the veneer ontothe conveyer, means located at the rear of the machine for stacking theveneer, and driving means engaging the lower stretches of the chains.

'36. A machine of the class described comprising a conveyer including aplurality of sprocket chains having upper horizontalflights, means forremoving the sheets of veneer from the conveyer, means for stacking thesheets, and driving mechanism engaging the sprocket chains at the lowerflights thereof, whereby the said lower flights are maintained taut tosecure a uniform stacking of the sheets.

37. A machine of the class described comprising a conveyer including aplurality of endless chains having upper and lower flights or stretches,the upper flights or stretches being arranged to carry the veneer, meansfor stacking the sheets of veneer as they leave the conveyer, drivingsprocket gears arranged beneath the conveyer and engaging the lowerflights of the sprocket chains, the latter being provided in advance ofthe sprocket gears with loops, and tension devices engaging the loops ofthe sprocket chams.

38. A machine of the class described comprising front and rear shafts,rotary suction devices mounted thereon, endless chains connecting theshafts, and driving mechanism arranged below and engaging the lowerflights of the chains.

39. Aomachine of the class described comprising front and rear shafts,sprocket wheels mounted thereon, chains arranged on the'sprocket wheelsfor rotating the shafts, suction devices also'mounted on the shafts, anddriving mechanism arranged below and engaging the lower flights of thechains.

40. A machine of the class described comprising means for holding astack of sheets of material, a conveyer for exposing the sheets, andfeeding mechanism including -a front rotary suction device for carryingthe sheets of veneer from the stack to the conveyer, and a rear rotarysuction device for Copies of this patent may be obtained for five centseach, c Washington, 0.

tary suction devices forming intervening grooves to permit the suctiondevices to bear against the stack throughout their entire rotarymovement, said stack being supported in fixed relation with the rotarysuction devices, and an endless conveyer having its chains arranged inthe grooves between the suction devices entirely below the peripherythereof so as to space the conveyer from the stack.

43. In a machine of the class described, r

the combination with'means for holding a stack of sheets of material, ofa hollow shaft, means for producing suction within the shaft, said shafthaving hollow spaced perforated annular drums forming interveninggrooves, and an endless conveyer composed of sprocket wheels mounted onthe hollow shaft and arranged within the said grooves, and sprocketchains arranged on the sprocket wheels and located between the hollowdrums and entirely below the periphery'of the same so as to space theconveyer from the stack and to permit the suction devices to bearagainst the stack throughout their entire rotary movement, saidstack'being maintained in fixed relation with the suction devices. 1 f'44. In a 'machine of the class described, the combination of a conveyerfor exposing sheets of veneer, hollow shafts located at the receivingand discharge ends 'of the conveyer, and vacuum tubes for creatinga'suction within the shafts, the hollow shaft at the receiving end ofthe conveyer being adapted to grip the sheets of veneer'for feeding thesame onto the conveyer, and the hollow shaft at the discharge endof theconveyer being adapted to grip the sheets for removing them'therefrom.

In testimony, that I claimthe foregoing as my own, I have heretoaifixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

f ORIN C. FENLASON. Witnessesz' V S M. L. WINTER, ALTON R.- KELLOGG.

addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

